Character specification system and method that uses a limited number of selection keys

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus of identifying and selecting characters from among a plurality of characters. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a computer processor electronically enables identification of each of a plurality of characters arranged in a one-dimensional array. Each character is identified by an integer value that corresponds to the number of positions the character is offset from a reference position of the one-dimensional array. The computer processor electronically enables selection of any of the characters by receiving input resulting from activation of selection keys that specify the integer value of a character desired for selection. In one further embodiment, each selection key has an assigned integer value, and the integer value that identifies the selected character is calculated by summing the assigned integer values of each selection key activated for each instance that each selection key is activated within a selectable-length time period.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

This description generally relates to the field of electronic devicesand, more particularly, to user interfaces of electronic devices.

Description of the Related Art

Electronic devices often require entry of data in the form of words,sentences, letters, numbers, characters and symbols by a user in orderto perform their designed functions. A typical character entry interfacethat meets this requirement provides a plurality of buttons, each sizedto be easily pressed by a human fingertip, with one character assignedto each button and one button for each character that a user could wantto select. In English-language cultures, the QWERTY keyboard is one suchstandard interface and this interface is commonly found on typewritersand computers.

Some electronic devices, either by design or due to a constraint, do notuse the standard interface. Portable electronic devices are an exampleof an entire category of electronic devices that do not typicallyprovide a standard character entry interface. Users of portable devicestypically demand that the device fit easily in a pocket or purse. Tomeet this requirement, portable devices cannot at the same time offerfinger-sized keys and enough keys for all the letters of an alphabet. Asmany portable devices have functions that require character entry, thisleads to a conflict between providing a user interface that offerscomplete and convenient functionality but in a size that can still becarried inside a user's pocket. Many alternative methods for solvingthis conflict exist in the prior art, as will be discussed below.

In FIG. 1 a cellular phone is shown having a character entry interfaceand method known in the prior art. The interface includes twelvephysical buttons in a 3×4 matrix on a front face of the phone. Ten ofthe twelve buttons are assigned a numeral, one numeral per button. Eightbuttons are also assigned text characters, three characters per button.Both the numerical and text character assignments are indicated on theface of the button. Characters are selected by first choosing amode—numeral or text character—that identifies which category ofcharacter becomes entered by pressing the button. Within text mode, theparticular character entered of the three displayed on a given buttonface is differentiated by the number of times the button is pressedduring a given period.

For example, in FIG. 1 the button in the top row middle column of theinterface is assigned the numeral 2 and the text characters a, b, and c.According to the method, while in text mode a user presses the buttonone time to indicate the character a for selection. To indicatecharacter b for selection, the user presses the button two consecutivetimes. Similarly, the user presses the button three consecutive times toindicate character c for selection. Sequences of characters that canform words and sentences are indicated by consecutively pressing theappropriate physical button the appropriate number of button presses foreach subsequent character in the desired word or sentence. Thisinterface and method are well-known in the art and has the advantage ofbeing compact in size; however, the method has the disadvantage of beingslow compared with a standard interface due to the number of buttonpresses required to enter many of the text characters.

In FIG. 2 a character entry interface and method similar to the oneshown in FIG. 1 is shown. The method is essentially identical to the oneshown in FIG. 1. The interface is different in that the buttons are softkeys, meaning that the buttons are graphically represented on changeabledisplay, rather than physical buttons. An advantage of this interface isthat it is configurable, because the graphical representation of thekeys can be changed on the display. Therefore, the assignment ofcharacters to buttons, the arrangement of the keys, and the overall sizeof the interface are variable. The method, however, still has thedisadvantage of being slow compared with a standard interface due to thenumber of button presses needed to enter many of the text characters.

In FIG. 3 another user interface and text entry method known in the artis shown. This interface has thirty keys distributed among three rows,ten keys per row. This interface provides enough buttons that everycharacter of a typical alphabet has its own key. Numeric charactersstill share keys with a text character, therefore a selection betweennumeric and text mode is still required. The method of indicatingcharacters for selection is straightforward in that a character isindicated by simply pressing the button that displays the desiredcharacter on the button face. This method offers the advantage of fastertext entry speeds because multiple character presses are not needed toselect any of the characters. A disadvantage of the interface is that tomeet size constraints the buttons are small relative to a typical user'sfingertip. This leads to slower and less accurate character entrycompared with a standard interface.

In FIG. 4 a character entry interface and method similar to the oneshown in FIG. 3 is shown. The method is essentially identical to the oneshown in FIG. 3.

The interface is different in that the buttons are soft keys, ratherthan physical buttons. Like the interface of FIG. 3, this interfaceprovides enough buttons that every character of a typical alphabet hasits own key. Characters are indicated for selection by simply pressingthe soft key that displays the desired character. An advantage of thisinterface over the one of FIG. 3 is that panels of various keys can beexchanged, for example the displayed panel of text characters can beexchanged for a panel of numeric characters. While this interface offersimproved configurability over the interface of FIG. 3, the disadvantagesof that interface, such as the small buttons relative to the size of auser's fingertips, still exist. A further disadvantage of thisinterface, and one shared with the interface of FIG. 2, is that softkeys provide no tactile feel to the user. A user cannot tactilelydistinguish if their finger is on a key or between keys, therefore thisinterface requires that a user either visually align their finger withthe desired button or verify that the desired character was selected byvisually checking a display.

In FIG. 5 a variation on the interface of FIG. 4 is shown. The method ofFIG. 5 is essentially identical to the ones shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,however the interface rearranges the buttons, and the assignments of thetext characters to the buttons, so that the most frequently usedcharacters of a language are assigned next to one another and close tothe center of the interface. For example, the commonly used charactersof a, e, s, t, r, and o are assigned to buttons at the center of theinterface. On the other hand, the less frequently characters of z, k, x,and q are placed at the corners. This arrangement speeds up characterentry by minimizing the time required for a user to move fingers betweenkeys because the most frequently used keys are located close to oneanother. This improvement highlights one disadvantage that all thecharacter entry interfaces share in common—one or two-finger characterentry compared with eight-finger entry on a standard QWERTY interface.

In FIG. 6 yet another character entry interface and method known in theart is shown. This interface uses a stylus and a touch-sensitive displayscreen. A user traces out shapes or symbols that represent charactersdirectly on the display screen. The electronic device is equipped tointerpret and recognize the shapes and associate each unique shape witha different text or numerical character. Shapes traced out on thedisplay screen are interpreted as separate characters based on when thestylus is lifted off on and then placed back on the display screen.Typically the user may trace character shapes out anywhere on thedisplay screen and as long as the electronic device is in a mode toreceive and interpret these shapes, the shape will be interpreted andthe indicated character understood. As an example, a user may have anote-taking application opened and shown on the display of theirelectronic device. A user places the tip of the stylus on the displayand, if they desire to enter the character a, traces a first linesegment diagonally upward and to the right on the display screen,followed by a second line segment straight downward on the screen fromthe end of the first line segment. Once the user picks the stylus up offthe screen, the device seeks to interpret the shape, associate it with aparticular character, and if recognizable, enter the indicated charactera in the note-taking application. A character is interpreted for eachcontinuous stroke of the stylus along the display screen. This interfacehas an advantage in that no display of a selection character or buttonsis required at all, however the method has the disadvantages ofrequiring the user to trace out characters rather than pressing buttonsand to learn the shapes that associated with each character.

In FIG. 7 still another character entry interface and method known inthe art is shown. This interface includes a two-stage display, a firststage that displays all the characters available for selection and asecond stage that displays a portion of the first stage in a zoom-inview. In the first stage, the available characters are displayed in asingle row. A frame lies over the displayed characters and surrounds aportion of the characters. Whatever characters are within the frame aredisplayed in the second stage, except of a size much larger thandisplayed in the first frame. The frame is moveable along the row ofcharacters and as characters enter or leave the frame by its movement,the characters shown in the second stage also correspondingly change.The second frame also includes selection buttons on which the charactersin the frame are shown. A user indicates a character for selection bypressing the selection button displaying the desired character. If thedesired character is not displayed, the user slides the frame in thefirst stage to cause the desired character to be shown in the secondframe, and then presses the appropriate button to indicate the characterfor selection. An advantage of the interface is that the selectionbuttons can be made large because there are selection buttons for only afew characters at any one time. The large buttons make the method highlyaccurate, but a disadvantage is that two different operations must beconducted per character indicated: first moving the frame along the rowof characters to display the desired character, and second actuallypressing the button displaying the desired character. The two steps makethe speed of the method slow compared with any of the others.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention provides a method of identifying and selectingcharacters from among a plurality of characters.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a computer processorelectronically enables identification of each of a plurality ofcharacters arranged in a one-dimensional array. Each character isidentified by an integer value that corresponds to the number ofpositions the character is offset from a reference position of theone-dimensional array. The computer processor electronically enablesselection of any of the characters of the array by receiving inputresulting from one or two activations of a selection key, or activationof a pair of selection keys. The activation of the selection key or keysspecifies the integer value that identifies a character desired forselection.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, each selectionkey has an assigned integer value, and the integer value that identifiesa selected character is calculated by summing the assigned integervalues of each selection key activated for each instance that eachselection key is activated within a selectable-length time period.

In accordance with still a further embodiment of the invention, thecomputer processor electronically displays the characters arranged inthe one-dimensional array on a display of a device.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, theone-dimensional array has thirteen characters and the received inputresults from activation of at least one of four selection keys.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the assignedinteger values of the four selection keys are −3, −2, +2, and +3.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the assignedinteger values of the four selection keys are −3, −1, +1, and +3.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the plurality ofcharacters is distributed amongst two or more one-dimensional arrays,each array having an associated set of selection keys.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the plurality ofcharacters is distributed amongst two or more one-dimensional arrayshaving thirteen characters each.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the charactersof the one-dimensional array are arranged according to their frequencyof use and the relative speed with which keystroke combinations can beexecuted by a user relative to other keystroke combinations.

In accordance with yet a further embodiment of the invention, morefrequently used characters are in positions of the one-dimensional arrayassociated with faster selection key keystroke combinations and lessfrequently used characters are in positions of the one-dimensional arrayassociated with slower selection key keystroke combinations.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the computer.processor automatically displays the selected character on a display ofthe device.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the computerprocessor electronically enables successive identification and selectionof the characters of the one or more one-dimensional arrays over aseries of selectable-length time periods. In a still further embodiment,the characters accrue on the display to form words.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, each selectionkey has an assigned integer value, and the integer value that identifiesa selected character is calculated by multiplying the assigned integervalues of each selection key activated for each instance that eachselection key is activated within a selectable-length time period.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, theone-dimensional array has eight characters, the received input resultsfrom activation of at least one of three selection keys, and theassigned integer values of the three selection keys are +2, +3, and +5.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, theone-dimensional array has eighteen characters, the received inputresults from activation of at least one of four selection keys, and theassigned integer values of the four selection keys are −1, +2, +3, and+5.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, theone-dimensional array has twenty characters, the received input resultsfrom activation of at least one of five selection keys, and the assignedinteger values of the five selection keys are −1, +2, +3, +5 and +7.

The present invention also discloses an electronic apparatus thatincludes (1) a case having a display, (2) a plurality of selection keysarranged on a front face of the case or the display, each selection keyhaving an assigned integer value that enables selection of any of aplurality of characters of a one-dimensional array by one or twoactivations of one selection key of the plurality of selection keys, oractivation of a pair of selection keys of the plurality of selectionkeys, each character identified by the number of positions the characteris offset from a reference position of the one-dimensional array; and(3) a processor inside the case, the display and the plurality ofselection keys in electrical communication with the processor.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the electronicapparatus further includes two or more one-dimensional arrays of atleast four unique characters each displayed on the front face of thecase or the display, each of the plurality of selection keys associatedwith one of the two or more one-dimensional arrays.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, each of theplurality of selection keys is oriented along an axis that lieslengthwise with the one-dimensional array of characters that eachselection key is associated.

In accordance with still a further embodiment of the invention, theelectronic apparatus further includes a reference feature located on ornear one of the one-dimensional arrays, and a scale oriented parallel toone of the one-dimensional arrays that includes a zero value at aposition corresponding to the reference feature.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the plurality ofcharacters are distributed amongst two one-dimensional arrays havingthirteen characters each and the number of selection keys associatedwith each one-dimensional array is four.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the assignedinteger values of the four selection keys are −3, −2, +2, and +3.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the assignedinteger values of the four selection keys are −3, −1, +1, and +3.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, a pluralityof selection keys associated with a one-dimensional array is combinedinto one multiple-function button.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, the displayand the plurality of selection keys are located remotely from oneanother.

The present invention also discloses a computer readable storage mediumhaving computer executable instructions that electronically enables (1)identification of any of a plurality of characters arranged in aone-dimensional array, each character identified by an integer valueequal to the number of positions that the character is offset from areference position of the one-dimensional array, and (2) selection ofany of the characters of the one-dimensional array by receiving inputresulting from one or two activations of one selection key, oractivation of a pair of selection keys, the activation of the one orpair of selection keys specifying the integer value that identifies aselected character.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, each selectionkey has an assigned integer value, and the integer value that identifiesthe selected character is calculated by a computer processor by summingor multiplying the assigned integer values of each activated selectionkey for each instance that each selection key is activated within aselectable-length time period.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the charactersof the one-dimensional array are arranged according to their frequencyof use and the relative speed with which keystroke combinations can beexecuted by a user relative to other keystroke combinations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-7 illustrate electronic devices consistent with the prior art.

FIG. 8 illustrates a user interface in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic drawing of an electronic device inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a setup in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a setup in accordance with another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a setup in accordance with still another embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates a user interface in accordance with one embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a setup in accordance with still another embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates a user interface in accordance with anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 18 illustrates a setup in accordance with yet another embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates a user interface in accordance with still anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates a user interface in accordance with anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates an electronic device in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates a user interface in accordance with yet anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 23 illustrates a table of selection key keystroke combinations inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 24 illustrates a table of the frequency of use of individualletters of the English language.

FIG. 25 illustrates an arrangement of the frequency of use values of theEnglish language on a user interface in accordance with one embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 26 illustrates a user interface in accordance with still anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 27 illustrates a user interface in accordance with yet anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 28 illustrates a user interface in accordance with still anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 29-35 show electronic devices in accordance with still otherembodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 8 and 9 show, respectively, a user interface 50 and a characterspecification method 52 in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention.

The user interface 50 of FIG. 8 includes an output display 54, aplurality of displayed characters 56, a reference 58, an offset scale60, a plurality of selection buttons 62, and a spacebar button 64 on aface 66 of a device 68. The output display 54 is one of a variety ofelectronic display screens, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD)screen, known in the industry. The selection buttons 62 and spacebarbutton 64 are buttons that are communicatively coupled with the device68 and in various embodiments can be either hard keys (physical buttons)or soft keys (buttons presented on a display screen).

The plurality of displayed characters 56 and the offset scale 60 aredistributed in respective one-dimensional arrays 70, 72 on the face 66of the device 68. In one embodiment the respective one-dimensionalarrays 70, 72 are positioned on the device 68 so that they lie adjacentto and parallel with one other. In one embodiment, both the plurality ofdisplayed characters 56 and the offset scale 60 are physical featureslocated directly on the face of the device, but in another embodimentthey are programmed in software so that they appear as features on theoutput display 54 of the device 68. In yet another embodiment, theplurality of displayed characters 56 is displayed on the output display54 and the offset scale 60 is located in a parallel one-dimensionalarray 72 physically on the face 66 of the device. The one-dimensionalarrays 70, 72 can be a plurality of characters arranged in rows,columns, or curved formations.

In one embodiment, the characters of the plurality of characters 56 aredistributed in a one-dimensional array in evenly spaced increments. In afurther embodiment, values of the offset scale 60 are distributed in aone-dimensional array in increments that match the increment of theplurality of characters 56, so that by referencing the offset scale 60to the plurality of characters 56, characters of the plurality ofcharacters 56 are effectively numbered.

The reference 58 is an indicator located near or on one of thecharacters of the plurality of characters 56. The offset scale 60includes a value of zero that is located to correspond with thereference 58 in the plurality of characters 56. Values of the offsetscale 60 increase from zero in pre-selected increments as positions ofthe offset scale get farther from the zero value. In a furtherembodiment, values of the offset scale 60 decrease from zero inpre-selected increments as positions of the offset scale get fartherfrom the zero value in a direction opposite to the increasing direction.In one embodiment, the pre-selected increment of the offset scale 60equals one and the values of the offset scale 60 extend from a negativeinteger value to a positive integer value passing through zero.

In one specific embodiment, the plurality of characters 56 and thevalues of the offset scale 60 are each distributed in respectiveone-dimensional arrays 70, 72 located adjacent to and parallel with oneanother, the values of the offset scale 60 count in increments of oneand are spaced with respect to one another in their array to correspondwith the spacing of positions in the array of the plurality ofcharacters 56, and the zero value zero in the offset scale 60corresponds to the reference 58 of the plurality of characters 56 sothat the values of the offset scale 60 label the positions of the arrayof the plurality of characters 56 according to how many positions agiven position in the array of the plurality of characters 56 is offsetfrom the reference 58.

The plurality of selection buttons 62 lie on the face 66 of the device68 and, as described above, can be either hard or soft keys. Each buttonis communicatively coupled with the device 68 and is assigned an integervalue. The assigned integer value can be either positive or negative.Each button 62 has the function that when the button is pressed theassigned integer value of the button is input to the device 68. In oneembodiment, the assigned integer value of each selection button isunique.

The spacebar 64 also lies on the face 66 of the device 68, can be eithera hard or soft key, and is communicatively coupled with the device 68.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of one embodiment of a character specificationmethod 52 for specifying one character from among a plurality ofcharacters in accordance with the user interface 50 of FIG. 8.

In one step of the method 74, a user views the plurality of characters56 distributed along a first one-dimensional array 70. In another step76, the user selects a character from the plurality of displayedcharacters 56 that is desired for specification. In another step 78, theuser identifies the selected character by the position of the characterwith respect to the reference 58 of the first one-dimensional array 70,for example by an integer value equal to the number of positions theselected character is offset from the reference 58 of theone-dimensional array 70. The user can identify the position of theselected character in a number of ways, including by referencing theposition to a corresponding value in the offset scale 60, counting thenumber of positions that the selected character is offset from thereference 58, recalling from memory the integer value that identifiesthe particular selected character, and recalling by muscle memory theselection button keystrokes that correspond with the selected characteror the selected character's position.

In another step 8, the user inputs the integer value that identifies theselected character by pressing one or more of the selection buttons 62one or more times. In another step 82, the device 68 interprets theselection button presses. Depending on the embodiment, the device 68 caninterpret the selection button presses in a number of ways. In oneembodiment, the device interprets selection button presses by adding upthe assigned integer values of each selection button pressed for eachinstance the selection button is pressed. Said another way, the device68 processes button presses by multiplying the assigned integer value ofeach selection button pressed by the number of instances the selectionbutton is pressed, and then adds up the calculated products to yield aninteger value. Other embodiments that correspond with the user interfaceof FIG. 8, or that correspond with user interfaces shown in laterfigures, are discussed below.

In another step of the method 84, the character identified by the inputinteger value is displayed on the output display 54 of the userinterface 50.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the characterspecification method 52 described above is used iteratively to specifyseries of characters from the plurality of displayed characters 56. Inone embodiment, words and sentences are formed on the output display 54by iteratively specifying characters according the method above, withthe spacebar 64 used to specify to the device the display of spacesbetween words on the output display.

FIG. 10 shows one embodiment of a text entry method 86 for specifyingseries of characters, although there are many alternative embodiments ofthe method that are within the scope of the invention. In one step 88 ofthe method 86, the device 68 initializes an integer value counter and anelapsed time counter equal to zero. In another step 92, the devicestarts the elapsed time counter when it receives indication from aprevious step 90 that a selection button has been pressed. In anotherstep 94, the device adds to the integer value counter an integer valueequal to the assigned integer value of the selection button pressed. Inanother step 96, the device compares the elapsed time counter with apre-selected value to determine if the counter exceeds a pre-selectedvalue.

If the elapsed time counter does not exceed the pre-selected value, inanother step 98 the device adds to the integer value counter integervalues equal to the assigned integer value of any selection buttonspressed times the number of instances each button is pressed since aprevious update of the integer value counter. In another step 100, thedevice adds to the elapsed time counter a value equal to the amount oftime elapsed since a previous update of the elapsed time counter.

If the elapsed time counter does exceed the pre-selected value, inanother step 12 the device interprets the integer value stored in theinteger value counter, which includes identifying a position in an arrayof displayed characters corresponding to the stored integer value andfurther includes identifying a character that corresponds with theidentified position. Said another way, the device correlates theselection button presses to a specific character by calculating aninteger value from the selection button presses and then matching thecalculated integer value up to a position in the array that holds thespecific character.

In one embodiment, in a further step 104, the device displays on theoutput display the character that occupies the position of the arrayidentified by the integer value. According to one embodiment of themethod, the device re-initializes the integer value counter and theelapsed time counter to zero and repeats the method in succession.According to an alternative embodiment, the device interprets theinteger value stored in the integer value counter and matches theinteger value with a corresponding character of the plurality ofdisplayed characters, but does not display the character.

Although the text entry method 86 of FIG. 10 is one embodiment of amethod for specifying series of characters, obviously the scope of themethod is not limited by this embodiment, but rather by the scope of theclaims.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic drawing of the electronic device 68 inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. The electronic device68 includes the front face 66, a computer processor 75, the plurality ofselection keys 62, the output display 54, a memory 106, and a powersource 108. The plurality of selection keys 62, the output display 54,the memory 106, and the power source 108 are communicatively coupled toone another through at least the processor 75. The plurality ofselection keys 62 and the output display 54 are located on the frontface 66 of the electronic device 68. In one embodiment, the elements 54,62, 75, 106, 108 of the electronic device 68 shown in FIG. 11 cooperateto enable one or both of the methods 52, 86 disclosed in FIGS. 9 and 10.In another embodiment, the output display 54 and plurality of selectionkeys 62 of the front face 66 of the device are arranged according to theuser interface 5 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 shows a table disclosing a specific setup of one embodiment ofthe invention, including (1) number of selection buttons, (2) assignedinteger values for each button, and (3) calculated integer valuesachievable with the specific values of (1) and (2). In the embodiment ofFIG. 12, the number of selection buttons is four and the assignedinteger values for each button are −3, −2, +2, and +3. The table showsthat for four selection buttons having these assigned integer values,there are 13 possible combinations of integer values that can becalculated using two button presses. As an example, in the first row ofthe table, Combination No. 1 yields the integer value equal −6 by theselection button with assigned integer value −3 being pressed two times.The second row of the table shows Combination No. 2 yields the integervalue −5 by pressing the selection button with assigned integer value −3one time and the selection button with assigned integer value −2 onetime. Scanning the table shows that for four selection buttons with theassigned integer values −3, −2, +2, and +3, all the integer values from−6 to +6, including zero, can be calculated with no more than two buttonpresses.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the setup of FIG. 12 isapplied to the user interface of FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 8, theinteger values from −6 to +6 achievable in the setup of FIG. 12 areapplied using the method of FIG. 9 or 10 to identify characters of thefirst one-dimensional array 70 of the user interface of FIG. 8.

For example, the letter a is specified by pressing the selection button−3 two times. The character b is specified by pressing the selectionbutton −3 and the selection button −2, each button one time. Thecharacter h is selected by pressing the selection button +3 and theselection button −2. The character k is selected by pressing theselection button +2 two times. The character g is selected by pressingthe selection button −2 and the selection button +2, each one time.According to the method of FIG. 9 or 10, series of characters can bespecified to the device, and according to a further embodiment,displayed on the output display to form words and sentences.

FIG. 13 shows a table disclosing a specific setup consistent withanother embodiment of the invention, including (1) number of selectionbuttons, (2) assigned integer values for each button, and (3) calculatedinteger values achievable with the specific values of (1) and (2). Inthe embodiment of FIG. 13, the number of selection buttons is four andthe assigned integer values for each button are −3, −1, +1, and +3. Thetable shows that for four selection buttons having these assignedinteger values, 13 possible combinations of integer values continuousfrom −6 to +6 can be calculated using three or fewer button presses.

For example, Combination No. 2 of the table shows that by pressing theselection button assigned integer value −3 one time and the selectionbutton assigned the integer value −1 two times, the integer value −5 canbe tallied. Combination No. 3 of the table shows that by pressing theselection button assigned integer value −3 one time and the selectionbutton assigned the integer value −1 one time, the integer value −4 canbe tallied. The integer value −4 could alternatively be tallied bypressing the selection button assigned the integer value −2 two times.As with the embodiment of FIG. 12, a continuous series of the integervalues from −6 to +6 is achievable with this setup, including the numberzero.

FIG. 14 shows a table disclosing an alternative embodiment of theinvention for a setup that includes three selection buttons and theassigned integer values of +2, +3, and +5. According to this embodiment,the method of calculating integer values deviates from the methods ofFIGS. 9 and 10, in that the integer values are calculated bymultiplication rather than addition. Instead of adding together theassigned integer values of the selection buttons pressed for eachinstance they are pressed, the assigned integer values are multipliedeach instance they are pressed. In a case where only one button ispressed, the integer value calculated is simply the assigned value ofthe pressed selection key. When two selection buttons are pressed, theinteger value calculated is the product of the assigned values of thetwo pressed selection keys. When three selection buttons are pressed,the integer value calculated is the product of the assigned values ofthe three selection buttons pressed, and so on. For example, CombinationNo. 1 yields an integer value of +2. Combination No. 3 yields an integervalue of +4 by multiplying +2 times +2. Combination No. 6 yields aninteger value of +8 by multiplying +2 times +2 times +2.

FIG. 15 shows one embodiment of a user interface compatible with thesetup of the embodiment of FIG. 14. FIG. 15 includes the plurality ofselection buttons 62, the plurality of characters 56 distributed in thefirst one-dimensional array 70, and the offset scale 60. In thisembodiment, the one-dimensional array 70 has nine positions, eightholding one character of the plurality of characters 56, and one emptyposition. The offset scale 60 has values from +2 to +6 and +8 to +10.The offset scale 60 is located parallel to the one-dimensional array 70and each value of the offset scale is located next to a correspondingposition of the one-dimensional array. There are three selection buttons62, with each button assigned a unique value from the group of values+2, +3, and +5.

FIG. 16 shows a table disclosing still another embodiment of theinvention having a setup that includes four selection buttons and theassigned integer values of −1, +2, +3, and +5. The embodiment of FIG. 16relies on the multiplicative method disclosed in FIG. 14, where theassigned integer values of the selection buttons pressed are multipliedaccording to the number of instances that the button is pressed. In thisembodiment, 17 unique integer values can be calculated using threebutton presses, or alternatively 18 unique integer values using fourbutton presses. As an example, Combination No. 2 of the table yields theinteger value −9 by pressing the selection button with the assignedinteger value +3 two times and the selection button with the assignedinteger value −1 one time. This embodiment provides a high ratio betweenthe number of integer values achieved and the number of selectionbuttons required.

FIG. 17 shows one embodiment of a user interface compatible with thesetup of the embodiment of FIG. 16. FIG. 17 includes the plurality ofselection buttons 62, the plurality of characters 56 distributed in thefirst one-dimensional array 70, and the offset scale 60. In thisembodiment, the first one-dimensional array 70 has twenty positions,eighteen holding one character each of the plurality of characters 56,and two0 empty positions. The offset scale 60 has values from −10 to −8,−6 to −1, +1 to +6 and +8 to +1. The offset scale 6 is located parallelto the first one-dimensional array 70 and each value of the offset scaleis located next to a corresponding position of the first one-dimensionalarray 70. There are four selection buttons 62, with each assigned aunique value from the group of values −1, +2, +3, and +5.

FIG. 18 shows a table disclosing still another embodiment of theinvention having a setup that includes five selection buttons and theassigned integer values of −1, +2, +3, +5 and +7. The embodiment of FIG.18 relies on the multiplicative method disclosed in FIG. 14, where theassigned integer values of the selection buttons pressed are multipliedaccording to the number of instances that the button is pressed. In thisembodiment, 20 unique integer values can be calculated using four buttonpresses. As an example, Combination No. 2 of the table yields theinteger value −9 by pressing the selection button with the assignedinteger value +3 two times and the selection button with the assignedinteger value −1 one time.

FIG. 19 shows one embodiment of a user interface compatible with thesetup of the embodiment of FIG. 18. FIG. 19 includes the plurality ofselection buttons 62, the plurality of characters 56 distributed in thefirst one-dimensional array 70, and the offset scale 60. In thisembodiment, the first one-dimensional array 70 has 20 positions, eachholding one character of the plurality of characters 56. The offsetscale 60 has values from −10 to +1 and +1 to +10. The offset scale 60 islocated parallel to the first one-dimensional array 70 and each value ofthe offset scale is located next to a corresponding position of theone-dimensional array. There are five selection buttons 62, with eachassigned a unique value from the group of values −1, +2, +3, +5 and +7.In this embodiment, because there is an even number of positions in thefirst one-dimensional array 70, the reference 58 is located evenlybetween two of the character positions. In the embodiment of FIG. 19,the reference 58 occurs between the characters j and k that occupy thearray.

FIG. 20 discloses an embodiment of the invention having a user interface50 in which the plurality of displayed characters 56 is distributedamong two or more one-dimensional arrays. The user interface 50 includesthe plurality of displayed characters 56, first and secondone-dimensional arrays 70, 110, first and second pluralities ofselection keys 112, 114, the offset scale 60, and at least one reference58.

The first and second one-dimensional arrays 70, 110 are positionedadjacent to and parallel with one another, and in one particularembodiment are oriented horizontally on the user interface with onearray positioned above the other. The offset scale 60 is positionedparallel to the first and second one-dimensional arrays 70, 110, and inone particular embodiment lies below the first and secondone-dimensional arrays, but in an alternative embodiment could be abovethe parallel arrays or between them. The offset scale 60 is positionedso that the zero value corresponds to the reference 58 of the first andsecond arrays. The offset scale 60 includes values spatially distributedso that each value of the offset scale corresponds with a position ofthe first and second one-dimensional arrays 70, 110. In a furtherembodiment, the values number the positions of the first and secondone-dimensional arrays 70, 110 with respect to the reference 58.

In a particular embodiment, the first and second one-dimensional arrays70, 110 include a sufficient number of positions to display all thecharacters of the English alphabet, as shown in FIG. 20. In a morespecific embodiment, the first and second one-dimensional arrays 70, 110have 13 positions each, are stacked one above the other on the userinterface 50, and 13 integer values from −6 to +6 in the offset scale 60are located on the user interface beneath the stacked one-dimensionalarrays.

The first and second pluralities of selection buttons 112, 114 eachinclude four selection buttons. The four selection buttons in eachplurality are assigned the integer values of −3, −2, +2, and +3. In oneembodiment, the first plurality of selection buttons 112 are alignedalong an axis lengthwise with the first one-dimensional array 70 and thesecond plurality of buttons 114 are aligned along an axis lengthwisewith the second one-dimensional array 110. In a further embodiment, eachplurality of selection buttons is located with respect to its associatedone-dimensional array so that the selection buttons 112, 114 assignednegative integer values are located on a first end 116 of the arrayidentified as the negative positions of the one-dimensional arrays 70,110 and the selection buttons 112, 114 assigned positive integer valuesare located on a second end 118 of the array identified as the positivepositions of the one-dimensional arrays. In still a further embodiment,the selection buttons 112, 114 are ordered with respect to one anotherso that buttons with higher assigned values (in terms of absolute value)are located further from the reference than the buttons with lowerassigned values (in terms of absolute value). FIG. 20 shows anembodiment in which all three of the above inventive aspects areincorporated: the respective selection buttons 112, 114 are in alignmentwith their respective one-dimensional arrays 70, 110, the selectionbuttons 112, 114 are located so that buttons with positive values arelocated on the positive end 118 of the array and buttons with negativevalues are located on the negative end 116 of the array, and the buttons112, 114 assigned integer values corresponding to a higher absolutevalue are further from the reference 58.

In one embodiment, the elements of the user interface of FIG. 20 operateaccording to one or both of the methods of FIGS. 9 and 10, the firstone-dimensional array 70 and first plurality of selection keys 112operating effectively independently from the second one-dimensionalarray 110 and second plurality of selection keys 114. In a furtherembodiment, the independently operating first and second one-dimensionalarrays 70, 110 and first and second pluralities of selection keys 112,114 share one output display 54 and characters from the first and secondarrays are displayed in succession on the output display according tothe order in which integer values input via the button presses of thefirst and second pluralities of buttons 112, 114 are received.

FIG. 21 shows a portable electronic device 120 in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention. The portable electronic device 120 includesthe output display 54, the plurality of displayed characters 56, thefirst and second one-dimensional arrays 70, 110, the reference 58, andthe first and second pluralities of selection buttons 112, 114. Inaccordance with the user interface of FIG. 20 and the methods describedin FIGS. 9 and 10, the user views the plurality of characters 56,selects a character for specification, identifies the character—first bythe one-dimensional array the character occupies and second by thecharacter's position in the array with respect to the reference—andinputs an integer value to the portable electronic device 120 bypressing the selection keys 112, 114 corresponding to the array 70, 110that holds the selected character and having the assigned integer valuesthat add up to the integer value that identifies the character in theappropriate array.

In a further embodiment, the portable electronic device 120 includes thespacebar 64 that is communicatively coupled with the device and thatwhen pressed outputs a space to the output display 54. In one embodimentthe user holds the portable electronic device 120 between the palms ofhis or her hands so that the thumbs of the user land over the respectivegroups of selection buttons 112, 114 at each end of the one-dimensionalarrays 70, 110.

FIG. 22 shows an alternative user interface in accordance with anotherembodiment of the invention. As with the embodiment of FIG. 20, thisembodiment includes two one-dimensional arrays 70, 110, but also has asufficient number of positions to display all the characters of theEnglish alphabet and the ten numerical digits, 0-9. In one respect, theuser interface of FIG. 22 is two of the user interfaces of theembodiment of FIG. 17 combined on a single interface. The user interfaceapplies the setup of the embodiment of FIG. 16, which includes twopluralities of selection buttons 112, 114 having four selection buttonseach and the assigned integer values −1, +2, +3, and +5. The embodimentof FIG. 22 provides for a total of 36 characters and operates accordingto the multiplicative method, as disclosed in FIG. 14.

FIG. 23 shows a table that ranks the speed with which differentselection button stroke combinations can be executed by a user. The fourcolumns of the table include a speed ranking, categories of keystrokecombinations, example keystroke combinations in each category, and anorientation label that identifies a ranking of 1 as fastest and aranking of 4 as slowest.

Referring to the user interface of FIG. 20 in the context of theelectronic device of FIG. 21, inputting an integer value by pressing theselection keys requires at least one of four unique keystrokecombinations. One possible keystroke combination is a single click of asingle button, as shown in the first row of the table of FIG. 23. Anexample from the interface of FIG. 21 is the keystroke combination usedto get an integer value of −3 or +2. A second possible keystrokecombination is a single click of two buttons with separate thumbs, asshown in row two of the table of FIG. 23. An example of this keystrokecombination from FIG. 21 is the strokes used to get the integer value of−1, which requires the pressing of −3 with the left thumb and +2 withthe right thumb, resulting in the specification of the letter f or s,depending on the one-dimensional array selected.

A third possible stroke combination is a double click of a singlebutton, as shown in row three of the table of FIG. 23. An example ofthis keystroke combination from FIG. 21 is the strokes used to get theinteger value of −6, which requires the pressing of −3 twice with theleft thumb. Another example is the integer value +4, which requires thepressing of +2 twice with the right thumb. A fourth possible keystrokecombination is a single click of two buttons with the same thumb, asshown in row four of the table of FIG. 23. An example of this strokecombination from FIG. 21 is the strokes used to get the integer value of−5, which requires the pressing of −3 and −2, both with the left thumb.

These four categories of keystroke combinations vary in the speed thatthey can be executed by a user. Naturally the fastest stroke combinationto execute is the single click of a single button. The next fastestcombination is a single click of two buttons with separate thumbsbecause the two button presses can effectively be pressedsimultaneously. The third fastest combination is a double click of asingle button, which is limited only by the speed that a user candouble-click. The fourth and slowest combination is the single click oftwo buttons with the same thumb, which requires the thumb or finger tomove between selection buttons and therefore takes more time to executethan the others. The varying speeds of the categories of keystrokecombinations make it advantageous to selectively arrange the charactersamong the positions of the one-dimensional arrays to maximize entryspeed. In one embodiment, the particular letters of a language arearranged among the positions of a one-dimensional array so that the mostfrequently used letters of a language are located in positions of thearray that correspond with fast keystroke combinations. Naturally, inthat same embodiment, the least frequently used letters of a languageare located in positions of the array that correspond with slowkeystroke combinations.

FIG. 24 shows a table of values corresponding to the frequency that eachletter of the English alphabet is used in the English language takenfrom the prior art. In the table, the values are ranked according totheir frequency of use.

FIG. 25 shows one arrangement of the values from the table of FIG. 24applied to the user interface of FIG. 20 according to the principles ofFIG. 23. The three rows below the user interface show the integer value,the keystroke combination (from FIG. 23), and the speed ranking (alsofrom FIG. 23) for each position of the one-dimensional arrays of theuser interface of FIG. 20. Starting at a left-most position 122 of oneof the one-dimensional arrays 70, 110 and reading down across the rows,for the frequency of use values 1.93 and 0.98, the integer value is −6,the keystroke button combination is (−3, −3), and the speed ranking is3. Continuing, in another example, with a second left-most position 124of the arrays, for the frequency of use values of 0.15 and 0.1, theinteger value is −5, the keystroke button combination is (−3, −2), andthe speed ranking is 4. In another example, jumping to a fourth positionfrom the left end of the array 126, for the frequency of use values 8.17and 6.33, the integer value is −3, the keystroke button combination is(−3), and the speed ranking is 1.

In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 25, letters of analphabet are distributed among the positions of the arrays of the userinterface according to the speed of keystroke execution, according tothe principles disclosed in FIG. 23. The embodiment of FIG. 25demonstrates this embodiment by the appearance of high frequency valuesin positions of high speed ranking (i.e., 1 or 2) and low frequencyvalues in positions of low speed ranking (i.e., 3 or 4).

For example, the position in the first array 70 of the interfacecorresponding with integer value −2 has a frequency of use of 12.7 and aspeed ranking of 1. In another example, the position in the second array110 of the interface corresponding with the integer value +3 has afrequency of use of 6.09 and a speed ranking of 1. In still anotherexample, the position in the first array 70 of the interfacecorresponding with the integer value +5 has a frequency of use of 0.15and a speed ranking of 4.

FIG. 26 shows the distribution 127 of letters of the English alphabetthat correspond to the distribution of the frequency of use values ofFIG. 25. Clearly the distribution of characters and frequency of usevalues shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 are only one embodiment of this aspectof the invention. Because many positions of the user interface have thesame speed ranking, a significant number of arrangements of charactersare possible that apply this aspect of the invention.

FIG. 27 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the plurality ofcharacters include letters of an alphabet, punctuation, and the digits0-9 distributed across multiple panels 128. According to one embodimentof the invention, the panels 128 of characters are displayed insuccession on the output display 54, with one panel shown in place ofanother. The particular panel shown is controlled by a user with aselection or toggle button. In the embodiment of FIG. 27, a first panel130 contains letters, a second panel 132 punctuation characters and athird panel 134 digits, but other distributions of characters are withinthe scope of the invention. In an alternative embodiment, letters,punctuation, and digits may be included on the same panel, as in theuser interface of FIG. 22. In still another embodiment, one of theone-dimensional arrays having punctuation is included on the panelhaving the two one-dimensional arrays of letters. In the third panel134, positions of the one-dimensional array are combined so that onlyten positions are shown, each having a numeric digit.

FIG. 28 shows yet another embodiment of the invention in which lettersof the French language are distributed among the multiple panels 128 ofthe user interface. In the embodiment of FIG. 28 the characters of theFrench language are split among the first and second panels 130, 132,but in an alternative embodiment the user interface could include morepositions in each one-dimensional array of the first panel 130 or couldinclude a third one-dimensional array and corresponding plurality ofselection keys in the first panel 130.

FIG. 29 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the user interface50 of FIG. 20 and the distribution 127 of FIG. 26 are applied to anelectronic device 136 that is enabled to operate according to at leastone of the methods 52, 86 of FIGS. 9 and 10. In the embodiment of FIG.29, the selection keys 112, 114 are hard keys, but in an alternativeembodiment the selection keys are soft keys shown on the output display.The top row of selection buttons 112 corresponds with the firstone-dimensional array 70 and the bottom row of selection buttons 114corresponds with the second one-dimensional array 110.

FIGS. 30A-30C show an embodiment of the invention in which the userinterface 50 of FIG. 20 is applied to an electronic device 138 and thatis enabled to operate according to at least one of the methods 52, 86 ofFIGS. 9 and 10, and further includes the multiple panels 128 accordingto the disclosure of FIG. 27. The electronic device also includes aShift key 140 and a Keypad key 142. The Shift key 140 functions toreplace the first panel 130 with the second panel 132 that holdspunctuation and the Keypad key 142 functions to replace the first panel13 with the third panel 134 that holds numeric characters.

FIG. 31 shows an embodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIG. 29,but in which the plurality of selection buttons 112, 114 are arranged incontinuous rows, in other words without space between the buttonsassigned negative integer values and buttons assigned positive integervalues. The embodiment also includes a Backspace button 144, an Enterkey 146, and the spacebar 64. Arranging the plurality of selectionbuttons 112, 114 in a continuous row enables the user to press selectionbuttons with negative assigned integer values with the right thumb andvice versa. This arrangement enables more options for how selectionbuttons are pressed. For example, for the combination of (−3, −2), the−3 button could be selected with the left thumb and the −2 button withthe right hand thumb, which can be accomplished simultaneously, ratherthan by pressing both buttons with the left hand thumb, which can onlybe accomplished one after the other. This arrangement of selection keysalso makes button pressing with the fingers, rather than the thumbs,more convenient.

FIG. 32 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the first andsecond one-dimensional arrays 70, 110 are oriented vertically on theoutput display 54 of a vertically-operated electronic device 148 and theplurality of selection buttons 112, 114 are arranged in columnsalongside the one-dimensional arrays. In one embodiment the selectionbuttons 112, 114 are hard keys, but in an alternative embodiment thebuttons are soft keys shown on the output display 54. The embodimentfurther includes the Backspace key 144, the spacebar 64, and the Enterkey 146. The user interface and the method of the vertically-operatedelectronic device 148 are consistent with that disclosed in FIG. 20 andFIGS. 9 and 10, respectively. This arrangement is conducive totwo-finger typing, with the index finger and the middle finger ratherthan thumbs used to press the selection buttons 112, 114.

FIG. 33 shows an embodiment of the invention consistent with thevertically-operated electronic device 148 of FIG. 32, except for thefunction of the spacebar 64. In this embodiment, the spacebar 64 of FIG.32 is divided into two buttons 64 a, 64 b. Whenever the device 148 is ina character entry mode, each button 64 a, 64 b performs the identicalfunction of inputting to the device 148 a space when pressed. However,according to the embodiment of FIG. 33, there is also a numeric entrymode. With the device 148 in numeric entry mode, the plurality ofselection keys 112, 114 input a digit from 0 to 9 that is associatedwith that selection key. This arrangement enables direct entry of digitsto the device 148 without relying on the one-dimensional arrays 70, 110.In one embodiment, numeric values 150 are printed on the face 152 of thevertically-operated electronic device 148 alongside each of theselection buttons 112, 114 so that the output display 54 does not needto display a panel of numeric characters. Rather, the user can toggle tothe numeric entry mode and then look directly at the characters shownalongside their assigned selection keys 112, 114 on the face 152 of thedevice.

FIG. 34 shows still another embodiment of the invention in which theuser interface 50 of FIG. 20 and the distribution 127 of FIG. 26 areapplied to an electronic device 136 that is enabled to operate accordingto at least one of the methods 52, 86 of FIGS. 9 and 10. In theembodiment of FIG. 34, the individual selection buttons 112, 114 of theembodiment of FIG. 29 are combined into two multiple-function gamecontroller-type buttons 154. Each game controller-type button 154 has aninteger value assigned to one quadrant of the button 154. By pressing ona given quadrant of the button, the integer value assigned to thatquadrant is input. In this embodiment of the electronic device 136, withthe user interface of FIG. 20 in effect, only two selection buttons arerequired because the two selection buttons each can enter one of fourdifferent integer values, for a total of eight possible combinations.With two selection buttons of four selection values each, thearrangement provides enough unique selection button combination tospecify 26 character positions.

FIG. 35 shows yet another embodiment in which the output display 54 andthe plurality of selection keys 112, 114 are remotely located from oneanother. According to one embodiment, the output display 54 isincorporated in a remotely-operated device 156. Consistent with otherembodiments of the invention, the output display 54 displays the firstand second one-dimensional arrays 70, 110 and the offset scale 60. Aportable controller 158 is communicatively coupled with the outputdisplay 54 via a cable 160 connected to the remotely-operated device156. The remotely-operated controller 158 includes the plurality ofselection buttons 112, 114. The remotely-operated device 156 operatesaccording to at least one of the methods of FIGS. 9 and 10.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent applicationpublications, U.S. patent application, foreign patents, foreign patentapplication and non-patent publications referred to in thisspecification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet areincorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.

Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employconcepts of the various patents, application and publications to provideyet further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to theembodiments in light of the above-detailed description.

The invention may be embodied as devices, systems, methods, and/orcomputer program products. Accordingly, some or all of the invention maybe embodied in hardware and/or software, including firmware, residentsoftware, micro-code, etc. The present invention may also take the formof a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readablestorage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program codeembodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instructionexecution system. In the context of this application, a computer-usableor computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store,communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or inconnection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example butnot limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagationmedium. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable mediamay comprise computer storage media and communication media.

In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not beconstrued to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed inthe specification and the claims, but should be construed to include allpossible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to whichsuch claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by thedisclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method in a text entry machine, themethod comprising: electronically enabling identification of charactersarranged within a one-dimensional array, each character identified by aninteger value equal to how many positions the character is offset from areference position of the one-dimensional array; and electronicallyenabling selection of a character from the array by receiving inputindicative of an integer value that corresponds to a position of theselected character in the one-dimensional array.
 2. The method of claim1 wherein the receiving input indicative of the integer value includesreceiving input of more than one integer, the sum of the received inputof more than one integer corresponding to the position of the selectedcharacter.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the receiving inputindicative of the integer value includes receiving input resulting fromactivation of selection keys on a user interface of the text entrymachine, each of the selection keys assigned an integer for input,wherein the integers assigned to the selection keys and all the possiblesums of any two of those integers assigned to the selection keys is asequence of consecutive integers.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein thesequence of consecutive integers includes one or fewer duplicateintegers.
 5. The method of claim 3 wherein the integers assigned to theselection keys are −3, −2, +2 and +3.
 6. The method of claim 3 whereinthe sequence of consecutive integers is from −6 to +6.
 7. An electronicapparatus comprising: a display; a plurality of selection buttons, eachbutton of the plurality of selection buttons having an assigned integervalue; and a processor communicatively coupled to the selection keys andthe display, wherein the processor is configured to: receive an inputtedinteger resulting from activation of one of the plurality of selectionbuttons, the inputted integer corresponding to the assigned integervalue of the one activated button of the plurality of selection buttons;and select from a one-dimensional array a character whose position inthe array is offset from a reference position of the array by a numberof positions that corresponds to the inputted integer.
 8. The electronicapparatus of claim 7 wherein the processor is configured to: receiveinputted integers resulting from activation of multiple selectionbuttons of the plurality of selection buttons, each inputted integercorresponding to the assigned integer value of a respective activatedbutton of the plurality of selection buttons; and select from theone-dimensional array the character whose position in the arraycorresponds to the sum of the inputted integers.
 9. The electronicapparatus of claim 8 wherein the plurality of selection buttons arearranged in a row.
 10. The electronic apparatus of claim 8 wherein anumber of buttons in the plurality of selection buttons is four.
 11. Theelectronic apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plurality of selectionbuttons has the assigned integer values −3, −2, +2 and +3.
 12. Theelectronic apparatus of claim 8 further comprising one or moreadditional pluralities of selection buttons, each plurality of selectionbuttons associated with a different one-dimensional array of characters.13. The electronic apparatus of claim 12 wherein the pluralities ofselection buttons are arranged in parallel rows.
 14. A non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium having computer executable instructionsthereon that, when executed by a text entry machine processing unit,cause the text entry machine processor to perform: electronicallyenabling identification of characters arranged within a one-dimensionalarray, each character identified by an integer value equal to how manypositions the character is offset from a reference position of theone-dimensional array; and electronically enabling selection of acharacter from the array by receiving input indicative of an integervalue that corresponds to a position of the selected character in theone-dimensional array.
 15. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedium of claim 14 wherein the receiving input indicative of the integervalue includes receiving input of more than one integer, the sum of thereceived input of more than one integer corresponding to the position ofthe selected character.
 16. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedium of claim 15 wherein the receiving input indicative of the integervalue includes receiving input resulting from activation of selectionkeys on a user interface of the text entry machine, each of theselection keys assigned an integer for input, wherein the integersassigned to the selection keys and all the possible sums of any two ofthose integers assigned to the selection keys is a sequence ofconsecutive integers.
 17. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedium of claim 16 wherein the sequence of consecutive integers includesone or fewer duplicate integers.
 18. The non-transitory computerreadable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the integers assigned to theselection keys are −3, −2, +2 and +3.
 19. The non-transitory computerreadable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the sequence of consecutiveintegers is from −6 to +6.